The hydrolysis of new lipid-like substrates and trilaurin in monolayers catalyzed with the lipase fromPseudomonas fluorescens

A simple method for determining the enzymic hydrolysis parameters of lipid-like substrates and trilaurin assembled in monolayers at the water-air interface was suggested. At a surface pressure of 10 mN/m, the initial rates of lipolysis were found to be proportional to the decrease in area of the substrate monolayer caused by the enzymic hydrolysis in a single-compartment Langmuir balance. The kinetic parameters for the hydrolysis of trilaurin and three 1,3-dilaurylpseudoglycerides acetylated in position 2 with an amino acid (phenylalanine, leucine, or valine) catalyzed with lipase fromPseudomonas fluorescens were determined. Unlike models of enzymic hydrolysis that neglect the thickness of the substrate monolayer, our method allows the determination of kinetic parameters in standard dimensions. The values ofk _cat for the synthetic pseudoglycerides were found to be significantly higher than that for trilaurin, while the values ofK _m(app) were close. This may be due to the presence of positively charged primary amino groups in the molecules of pseudoglycerides.     

Silicon compounds as substrates and inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase

Several trimethylsilyl derivatives were found to be ligands of acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine acetylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7): trimethylsilylethyl acetate (III) and trimethylsilylmethyl acetate (V) are substrates of the enzyme, whereas trimethylsilylethanol (VIII) is a competitive inhibitor. The silicon compounds have kinetic parameters similar to those of their carbon analogues, except for trimethylsilylmethyl acetate, which is a substrate of acetylcholinesterase, whereas its carbon analogue is not susceptible to enzymic hydrolysis.     

The role of Tyr248 probed by mutant bovine carboxypeptidase A: insight into the catalytic mechanism of carboxypeptidase A

We have investigated the function of Tyr248 using bovine wild-type CPA and its Y248F and Y248A mutants to find that the K(M) values were increased by 4.5-11-fold and the k(cat) values were reduced by 4.5-10.7-fold by the replacement of Tyr248 with Phe for the hydrolysis of hippuryl-L-Phe (HPA) and N-[3-(2-furyl)acryloyl]-Phe-Phe (FAPP), respectively. In the case of O-(trans-p-chlorocinnamoyl)-L-beta-phenyllactate (ClCPL), an ester substrate, the K(M) value was increased by 2.5-fold, and the k(cat) was reduced by 20-fold. The replacement of Tyr248 with Ala decreased the k(cat) values by about 18- and 237-fold for HPA and ClCPL, respectively, demonstrating that the aromatic ring of Tyr248 plays a critical role in the enzymic reaction. The increases of the K(M) values were only 6- and 5-fold for HPA and ClCPL, respectively. Thus, the present study indicates clearly that Tyr248 plays an important role not only in the binding of substrate but also in the enzymic hydrolysis. The kinetic results may be rationalized by the proposition that the phenolic hydroxyl of Tyr248 forms a hydrogen bond with the zinc-bound water molecule, causing further activation of the water molecule by reducing its pK(a) value. The pH dependency study of k(cat) values and the solvent isotope effects also support the proposition. A unified catalytic mechanism is proposed that can account for the different kinetic behavior observed in the CPA-catalyzed hydrolysis of peptide and ester substrates.     

The use of chromogenic reference substrates for the kinetic analysis of penicillin acylases.

Determination of kinetic parameters of penicillin acylases for phenylacetylated compounds is complicated due to the low K(m) values for these substrates, the lack of a spectroscopic signal, and the strong product inhibition by phenylacetic acid. To overcome these difficulties, a spectrophotometric method was developed, with which kinetic parameters could be determined by measuring the effects on the hydrolysis of the chromogenic reference substrate 2-nitro-5-[(phenylacetyl)amino]benzoic acid (NIPAB). To that end, spectrophotometric progress curves with NIPAB in the absence and presence of the phenylacetylated substrates and their products were measured and analyzed by numerical fitting to the appropriate equations for competing substrates with product inhibition. This analysis yielded kinetic constants for phenylacetylated substrates such as penicillin G, which are in close agreement with those obtained in independent initial velocity experiments. Using NIPAB analogs with lower k(cat)/K(m) values, kinetic parameters for the hydrolysis of cephalexin and penicillin V were determined. This method was suitable for determining the kinetic constants of penicillin acylases in periplasmic extracts from Escherichia coli, Alcaligenes faecalis, and Kluyvera citrophila. The use of chromogenic reference substrates thus appears to be a rapid and reliable method for determining kinetic constants with various substrates and enzymes.     

Glycine flanked by hydrophobic bulky amino acid residues as minimal sequence for effective subtilisin catalysis.

The specificity of alkaline mesentericopeptidase (a proteinase closely related to subtilisin BPN') for the C-terminal moiety of the peptide substrate (Pi' specificity) has been studied in both hydrolysis and aminolysis reactions. N-Anthraniloylated peptide p-nitroanilides as fluorogenic substrates and amino acid or peptide derivatives as nucleophiles were used in the enzymic peptide hydrolysis and synthesis. Both hydrolysis and aminolysis kinetic data suggest a stringent specificity of mesentericopeptidase and related subtilisins to glycine as P1' residue and predilection for bulky hydrophobic P2' residues. A synergism in the action of S1' and S2'subsites has been observed. It appears that glycine flanked on both sides by hydrophobic bulky amino acid residues is the minimal amino acid sequence for an effective subtilisin catalysis.     

Conclusions about aminopeptidase in tissue sections from studies of amino acid naphthylamide hydrolysis.

Catalytic properties (KM, Vmax) of aminopeptidase in pig kidney sections, in isolated membranes and in a solubilized purified form were investigated using amino acid 2-naphthylamides and 4-methoxy-2-naphthylamides. In the first case these properties were estimated on the basis of the stain intensity resulting from the coupling of product with Fast Blue B, in the latter two cases they were measured fluorometrically. The following observations were made: (1) In all three cases the substrate turnover was shown to be a direct function of time and enzyme concentration. (2) The values obtained for the solubilized and the membrane bound form were practically identical but differed from those found in tissue sections. (3) Each amino acid derivative had defined constants, but these were difficult to obtain in sections, especially if it was necessary, on account of poor solubilities, to use low substrate concentrations. (4) Hydrophilic amino acid derivatives were adsorbed to tissue membranes much less than hydrophobic ones. (5) Fast Blue B caused a non-competitive inhibition of enzymic activity. (6) Binding of antibody against pure aminopeptidase caused inhibition of the enzymic hydrolysis of all the naphthylamides. Thus, histochemical stain intensities per time and area derived from one substrate at a defined concentration are suitable for the determination of enzyme concentrations. However, no conclusions regarding the homogeneity of the enzyme in sections can be drawn by comparing the stain intensities obtained with different substrates in contrast to data from the inhibition of substrate hydrolysis by antibody.     

Conclusions about aminopeptidase in tissue sections from studies of amino acid naphthylamide hydrolysis

Summary Catalytic properties (K_M, V_max) of aminopeptidase in pig kidney sections, in isolated membranes and in a solubilized purified form were investigated using amino acid 2-naphthylamides and 4-methoxy-2-naphthylamides. In the first case these properties were estimated on the basis of the stain intensity resulting from the coupling of product with Fast Blue B, in the latter two cases they were measured fluorometrically. The following observations were made: (1) In all three cases the substrate turnover was shown to be a direct function of time and enzyme concentration. (2) The values obtained for the solubilized and the membrane bound form were practically identical but differed from those found in tissue sections. (3) Each amino acid derivative had defined constants, but these were difficult to obtain in sections, especially if it was necessary, on account of poor solubilities, to use low substrate concentrations. (4) Hydrophilic amino acid derivatives were adsorbed to tissue membranes much less than hydrophobic ones. (5) Fast Blue B caused a non-competitive inhibition of enzymic activity. (6) Binding of antibody against pure aminopeptidase caused inhibition of the enzymic hydrolysis of all the naphthylamides. Thus, histochemical stain intensities per time and area derived from one substrate at a defined concentration are suitable for the determination of enzyme concentrations. However, no conclusions regarding the homogeneity of the enzyme in sections can be drawn by comparing the stain intensities obtained with different substrates in contrast to data from the inhibition of substrate hydrolysis by antibody.     

Kinetic studies of urokinase-catalysed hydrolysis of 5-oxo-L-prolylglycyl-L-arginine 4-nitroanilide

The enzymic properties of urokinase (EC 3.4.21.31) were studied. The kinetic parameters of hydrolysis of 5-oxo-Pro-Gly-Arg-NA were determined in the pH range 5-9, at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C. The reaction is affected by only one ionizing group of urokinase with pK 7.15 (25 degrees C) and pK 6.82 (37 degrees C). The results indicate that 5-oxo-Pro-Gly-Arg-NA is a good model substrate for studies of the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin. The Km values of the urokinase-catalysed hydrolysis of plasminogen and 5-oxo-Pro-Gly-Arg-NA are of the same order of magnitude. Plasmin catalyses the hydrolysis of 5-oxo-Pro-Gly-Arg-NA, but the Km value is several hundred times that of urokinase. Urokinase is shown not to react with good plasmin substrates, such as Bz-Arg-OEt and D-Val-Leu-Lys-NA, but is linearly competitively inhibited by 6-amino-hexanoic acid and trans-4-aminomethylcyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid.     

Substrate specificity of the serine proteinase from Bacillus subtilis, strain 72

A comparative study of the hydrolysis of various p-nitroanilide substrates (Z-A2-A1-pNA, Z-A3-A2-A1-pNA, and Z-A4-A3-A2-A1-pNA, where A1-An are various amino acid residues, Z is the benzoyloxycarbonylic group and pNA is the p-nitroanilide group), catalyzed by serine proteinase from Bacillus subtilis strain 72, was carried out. It was found that depending on the substrate structure, the hydrolysis may involve both the peptide-p-nitroaniline and the amino acid-amino acid bonds. A kinetic analysis of substrate hydrolysis occurring simultaneously at these two bonds was carried out. The physico-chemical meaning of the kinetic parameters of the given scheme was determined. The quantitative estimation of the enzyme specificity with respect to both hydrolyzing bonds can be found by using the parameters calculated during the analysis of the kinetic curve of p-nitroaniline production. It was found that according to their specificity the amino acid residues at position A1 can be arranged in the following order: L-Leu greater than P-Phe greater than L-Ile greater than L-Ala. The beta-branched amino acid residues, L-Val and L-Ile, do not bind to subsite S1. If these residues occupy position A1, the substrate splitting occurs exclusively between residues A1 and A2. The tetrapeptide N-protected p-nitroanilide substrates are also hydrolyzed at this bond. Partial hydrolysis of the amino acid-amino acid bond between residues A1 and A2 occurs in two cases: i) when residue A1 is loosely bound to subsite S1 and/or, ii) when residue A2 is firmly bound to subsite S1.     

Characterization of alternate reductant binding and electron transfer in the dopamine beta-monooxygenase reaction

The steady-state limiting kinetic parameters Vmax, V/KDA, and V/KO2, together with deuterium isotope effects on these parameters, have been determined for the dopamine beta-monooxygenase (D beta M) reaction in the presence of structurally distinct reductants. The results show the one-electron reductant ferrocyanide to be nearly as kinetically competent as the presumed in vivo reductant ascorbate. Further, a reductant system of ferricyanide plus substrate dopamine yields steady-state kinetic parameters and isotope effects very similar to those measured solely in the presence of ferrocyanide, indicating a role for catecholamine in the rapid recycling of oxidized ferrocyanide. Use of substrate dopamine as the sole reductant is found to lead to a highly unusual kinetic independence of oxygen concentration, as well as significantly reduced values of Vmax and V/KDA, and we conclude that dopamine reduces enzymic copper in a rate-limiting step that is 40-fold slower than with ascorbate. The near-identical kinetic parameters measured in the presence of either ascorbate or ferrocyanide, together with markedly reduced rates with dopamine, are interpreted in terms of a binding site for reductant that is physically distinct from the substrate binding site. This view is supported by molecular modeling, which reveals ascorbate and ferrocyanide to possess an unexpected similarity in potential sites for interaction with enzymic residues. With regard to electron flux, identical values of V/KO2 have been measured with [2,2-2H2]dopamine as substrate both in the presence and in the absence of added ascorbate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

An evolutionary approach to enzyme kinetics: Optimization of ordered mechanisms

A theoretical investigation is presented which allows the calculation of rate constants and phenomenological parameters in states of maximal reaction rates for unbranched enzymic reactions. The analysis is based on the assumption that an increase in reaction rates was an important characteristic of the evolution of the kinetic properties of enzymes. The corresponding nonlinear optimization problem is solved taking into account the constraint that the rate constants of the elementary processes do not exceed certain upper limits. One-substrate-one-product reactions with two, three and four steps are treated in detail. Generalizations concern ordered uni-uni-reactions involving an arbitrary number of elementary steps. It could be shown that depending on the substrate and product concentrations different types of solutions can be found which are classified according to the number of rate constants assuming in the optimal state submaximal values. A general rule is derived concerning the number of possible solutions of the given optimization problem. For high values of the equilibrium constant one solution always applies to a very large range of the concentrations of the reactants. This solution is characterized by maximal values of the rate constants of all forward reactions and by non-maximal values of the rate constants of all backward reactions. Optimal kinetic parameters of ordered enzymic mechanisms with two substrates and one product (bi-uni-mechanisms) are calculated for the first time. Depending on the substrate and product concentrations a complete set of solutions is found. In all cases studied the model predicts a matching of the concentrations of the reactants and the corresponding Michaelis constants, which is in good accordance with the experimental data. It is discussed how the model can be applied to the calculation of the optimal kinetic design of real enzymes.     

Enzymatic reaction of silent substrates: kinetic theory and application to the serine protease chymotrypsin

Investigating the selectivity that an enzyme expresses toward its substrates can be technically challenging if reaction of these substrates is not accompanied by a conveniently monitored change in some physicochemical property. In this paper, we describe a simple method for determining steady-state kinetic parameters for enzymatic turnover of such "silent" substrates. According to this method, silent substrate S is allowed to compete for enzymic reaction with signal-generating substrate S*, whose conversion to product can be conveniently monitored. Full reaction progress curves are collected under conditions of [S*](o) < K(m)* and [S](o) >or= 3K(m). Progress curves collected under these conditions are characterized by an initial lag phase of duration tau that is followed by the pseudo-first-order reaction of S. Steady-state kinetic parameters for the silent substrate can be obtained by one of two methods. One method combines least-squares fitting with numerical integration of appropriate rate equations to analyze the progress curves, while the other method relies on direct graphical analysis in which K(m) is the value of [S](o) that reduces the control velocity by a factor of 2 and V(max) is shown to simply equal the ratio [S](o)/tau. We use these methods to analyze the alpha-chymotrypsin-catalyzed hydrolysis of silent substrate Suc-Ala-Phe-AlaNH(2) with signal generator Suc-Ala-Phe-pNA. From the curve-fitting method, k(c) = 0.9 +/- 0.2 s(-1) and K(m) = 0.4 +/- 0.1 mM, while by direct graphical analysis, k(c) = 1.1 +/- 0.1 s(-1) and K(m) = 0.51 +/- 0.03 mM. As validation of this new method, we show agreement of these values with those determined independently by HPLC analysis of the hydrolysis of Suc-Ala-Phe-AlaNH(2) by alpha-CT, where k(c) = 1.1 +/- 0.1 s(-1) and K(m) = 0.5 +/- 0.1 mM.     

Parameters of enzyme reactions in microcirculation

It has been shown that time-dependent change in the concentration of enzymic reaction substrate in a microcirculatory channel cell, as well as its steady spatial distribution contain information both about the structure of the microcirculatory channel and about the reaction kinetic parameters. In terms of the hypothesis about the stationary state of the enzyme-substrate complex at selective values of hydrodynamic parameters of the substrate, enzyme, channel correlation between the change in the substrate concentration, its stationary distribution, kinetic parameters and the microcirculation cell structure were estimated.     

Quantification of chymosin action on nonlabeled kappa-casein-related peptide substrates by ultraviolet spectrophotometry: description of kinetics by the analysis of progress curves

A method is described for quantifying the proteolytic action of the milk-clotting enzyme chymosin on small and medium-sized peptide substrates by monitoring the decrease of absorbance at 230 nm during cleavage. The method is illustrated by the determination of the kinetic parameters of the specific splitting of a kappa-casein-related hexa- and pentadecapeptide by chymosin. The results are in good agreement with those found earlier with the same enzyme/substrate system by using an automated ninhydrin method. Erroneous results were obtained when the kinetic data were derived from one single progress curve. The significance of initial rate measurements for calculating correct kinetic parameters is briefly discussed. The usefulness of single progress curves measured at different initial substrate concentrations for obtaining information about the mechanism of the enzymic reaction is demonstrated.     

Azoalbumin hydrolysis by Bacillus subtilis 72 subtilisin

The kinetic parameters of azoalbumin hydrolysis by alkaline proteinase from Bacillus subtilis were determined to be Km = 1.2 . 10(-3) M, kcat = 1.5 sec-1 according to the method of Lainuiwer-Berk and Km = 4 . 10(-3) M, kcat = 0.5 sec-1 from the analysis of the entire kinetic curve. It was found that pH optimum of subtilizin hydrolysis of various substrates and the shape of the curve depended on the substrate nature.     

Kinetic investigation of soybean trypsin-like enzyme catalysis

Various esters and amides of benzoylarginine and of benzyloxycarbonylarginine were subjected to enzymic hydrolysis at pH 8.5 and 7.2 by soybean trypsin-like enzyme (STLE). The kcat values for the hydrolysis of esters and amides were essentially identical regardless of the kind of leaving group. These results suggest that the STLE-catalyzed hydrolysis of ester and amide substrates proceeds via an acylenzyme intermediate and that the deacylation step is rate-determining. Hydrolysis of various 4-methylcoumaryl-7-amides of varying chain length and amino acid sequence was carried out at pH 8.5. Analysis of kinetic parameters revealed that STLE does not exhibit any remarkable subsite requirement, but somewhat preferentially hydrolyzes shorter substrates. These observations are consistent with the fact that STLE does not hydrolyze protein substrates or oxidized insulin B chain but hydrolyzes oligopeptides (Nishikata, M. (1984) J. Biochem. 95, 1169-1177). It is possible that the active site of STLE is located at a deep position in the enzyme molecule. From the pH dependency of kcat/Km, the participation of a histidine residue in the catalytic process of STLE was suggested.     

A monolayer and bulk study on the kinetic behavior of Pseudomonas glumae lipase using synthetic pseudoglycerides

A heat-stable lipase from Pseudomonas glumae was purified to homogeneity. Its positional and stereospecific properties were investigated and compared with those of the well-known porcine pancreatic lipase. The kinetic properties of both enzymes were determined by use of six isomeric synthetic pseudoglycerides all composed of a single hydrolyzable fatty acyl ester bond and two lipase-resistant groups: one acylamino and one ether function. Two enzyme assay techniques were applied: a detergent-free system, the monomolecular surface film technique, and the pH-stat technique using clear micellar solutions of substrate in the presence of Triton X-100. Regarding the cleavage of primary ester bonds, P. glumae lipase possesses no stereopreference. In contrast, a large stereopreference in favor of the R-isomer is found for the hydrolysis of secondary ester bonds. Secondary ester bonds are efficiently cleaved by the lipase, which makes it of potential interest for enzymatic synthetic purposes. For the hydrolysis of this R-isomer a correlation between the experimental catalytic turnover rate and the binding constant for micelles was observed. The kinetic data of P. glumae lipase have been analyzed in terms of the scooting and hopping models for the action of lipolytic enzymes [Upreti, G.C., & Jain, M.K. (1980) J. Membr. Biol. 55, 113-121]. The results presented in this study are best explained by assuming that glumae lipase leaves the interface after a limited number of catalytic cycles.     

Fluorometric method for estimating the kinetic parameters of beta-naphthyl triphosphate and ATP hydrolysis by acto-heavy meromyosin

We have established a method to estimate the values of various kinetic parameters of acto-heavy meromyosin (acto-HMM) ATPase, using a fluorescent ATP analog, beta-naphthyl triphosphate (beta-NapP3); from the fluorescence intensity change accompanying beta-NapP3 hydrolysis, the various kinetic parameters of beta-NapP3 hydrolysis, including its product inhibition, were obtained. beta-NapPd3 hydrolysis is inhibited competitively by ATP, resulting in different time courses of fluorescence intensity change in the presence and absence of ATP. From this difference, the values of kinetic parameters of ATP hydrolysis, including its product inhibition, can be estimated. By extending this method to the acto-HMM system, seventeen parameters in a reaction scheme for the concurrent hydrolysis of ATP and beta-NapP3, including association constants between F-actin and substrate-free or substrate-bound HMM, were obtained. The kinetic-parameters estimated for ATP hjydrolsis were in good agreement with those in the literature.     

A HISTOCHEMICAL ENZYME KINETIC SYSTEM APPLIED TO THE TRYPSIN-LIKE AMIDASE AND ESTERASE ACTIVITY IN HUMAN MAST CELLS

A method for the determination of enzyme kinetic constants V_m, K_m, and K_i in a histochemical system has been devised. As a substitute for the reciprocal of the reaction velocity, the times necessary to reach a fixed amount of end product (the initial visible color) in a tissue site at various substrate concentrations are plotted, according to the method of Lineweaver and Burk, against the reciprocal of the substrate concentrations. The technique as applied to trypsin-like esterase and amidase activities in human mast cells indicates that a single enzyme or closely related enzymes in this site are responsible for the hydrolysis of both the amide and ester substrates and that typical trypsin substrates act as competitive inhibitors of their hydrolysis. Parallel biochemical studies were performed to evaluate the effect of certain aspects of the experimental histochemical method on a purified homospecific enzyme. The relative kinetic constants derived by the histochemical method afford a further means of characterizing enzymic activity in a histochemical system.     

Use of 1- and 2-thionaphthylacetates as cholinesterase substrates

1- and 2-thionaphthylacetates were tested as cholinesterase substrates. It was shown that the butyrilcholinesterase from horse serum can hydrolize these compounds. The hydrolysis velocity of 1-thionaphthylacetate was comparable with hydrolysis velocity of acetylthiocholine (the well known cholinesterase substrate), but 2-thionaphthylacetate was hydrolysed more slowly. The values of the kinetic parameters V and K(m) for butyrylcholinesterase hydrolysis of 1- and 2-thionaphthylacetates were determined. It was offered to use 1-thionaphthylacetates as the substrate for cholinesterases.